Armed police swooped on the streets of Hardwick in Stockton

Police were called to a flat on Ketton Road in Hardwick earlier today. The roads were all closed off whilst armed officers surrounded the flat, police then had to determine if the flat was occupied, they used ladders to look through the windows of the top flat (Image: Terry Blackburn)

Dozens of officers and the dog section were called to an address on Ketton Road, Hardwick, at around 2.20pm yesterday.

Police closed the road off to the public and the air ambulance was also spotted by local people.

But a Cleveland Police spokesman later confirmed that no further investigations will take place into large-scale incident.

“We were called to a report of an assault,” he said. “But no complaint has been made so no further action will take place.”

At the scene, residents watched the drama unfold and spoke of their shock at seeing the force swoop.

Mum-of-three, Dianne Stott said: “There were three ambulances, the air ambulance, armed police with riot shields and police dogs.

“They went into the flat owned by a young man.

“We have not had anything like this around here in years, no problems at all.”

Police were called to a flat on Ketton Road in Hardwick earlier today. The roads were all closed off whilst armed officers surrounded the flat, police then had to determine if the flat was occupied, they used ladders to look through the windows of the top flat. (Image: Terry Blackburn)

Witnesses sitting outside The Sheraton Pub at the time, described how the scene went from being quiet to swarming with police officers within minutes.

One man, who did not wish to be named but regularly drinks in the pub said: “I was outside having a cigarette when a police man came up to me to ask if anything was going on.

“I told him that I had been out for about five minutes but not seen anything.

“Then suddenly more police cars and a police van appeared.

“We saw police with dogs going around the back of the building and then they had a ladder up against the front window, looking into a flat.”

A fellow Sheraton regular added: “For about an hour there was a lot of activity but nothing to actually see.”

Police could still be seen carrying out a search of the address at about 3.30pm to try to establish what had taken place, including identifying any victim.

Speaking at the time, a spokeswoman said: “Police were called to a disturbance at an address on Ketton Road, Stockton, at around 2.20pm.

She added that the police were working to establish what has taken place, including identifying any victim.